Some people would like to bury their water tanks to either reduce their height or hide them completely from view. Unlike steel tanks which cannot be buried due to corrosive reasons, with a poly tank you have no such worries. This article will look at a few things you need to keep in mind if burying your poly tank.
Partially Burying Your Tank
It is important that you do not just bury any poly tank. Standard above ground tanks have not been engineered to withstand the lateral pressure of the earth. If not properly supported then they can collapse due to outside pressure. That said, regular above ground poly tanks can be partially buried.
Before starting, seek the advice of an engineer as soil type, desired depth and location must be evaluated by an expert when partially burying your tank. This will ensure the foundations do not erode and your tank will be appropriately supported.
While not normal, you may partially bury many of Team Poly’s regular poly tanks. As a guide, we recommend burying your poly tank no more than 1 metre into the ground. It is important to dig your hole 300mm (12 inches) wider than the base diameter of your tank. If two tanks are to be buried side-by-side then separate holes must be dug.
Your tank foundations must be prepared as per normal. That is upon an appropriate compacted, level and flat base. Suitable bases include brick, concrete, gravel or solid dolomite surface between 300mm and 400mm of depth.
NOTE: Incorrect installation may void your warranty so it is essential to carefully follow the installation instructions for your water tank.
Completely Burying Your Tank
While it isn’t appropriate to completely bury a regular water tank, you can find poly tanks that are designed to be placed underground. An advantage of an underground poly tank is that they are a lot less expensive than concrete tanks, made to withstand the pressure of being buried and are much easier to install.
If you would like advice about your particular situation, contact the expert team at Team Poly today.